Ghees House (Brent Holland) slipped out behind a tiring rival and slipped into the winner's circle Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,000 Open Handicap Pace

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Special Report (Larry Stalbaum), assigned the inside as the 3-2 favourite, seated everyone at the outset. Ghees House, starting right outside, protected the pocket with Dragon Island (George Brennan) and Blueridge Western (Jason Bartlett) finding comfy holes early.

Special Report offered intervals of :27.3 and :56.4 before 19-1 proposition Blueridge Western moved from fourth down the backside.

It was a short-lived battle of millionaires as Special Report dropped anchor right at the 1:25 three-quarters.

Blueridge Western opened a two-length lead into the lane, but Ghees House--extricating himself just in time--commenced the chase. He made up 2-1/2 lengths off the final turn, getting up by a schnozz in 1:53.2.

Dragon Island, Southwind Tabor (Stephane Bouchard) and Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance) completed the cashers, while Special Report faded to last among the octet.

For Ghees House, a seven-year-old son of Western Ideal leased by The Cheyenne Gang and trained by Robbie Siegelman, he returned $20 (fourth choice) for a winning 2011 premiere. The exacta paid $265, with the triple returning $2,298.

Yonkers' current live schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) remains in effect during the new year, with first post at 7:10 p.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, while afternoon simulcasting is available around the NYRA schedule. Please be advised Yonkers is open this Monday afternoon, as Aqueduct races for the Martin Luther King holiday.

(Yonkers Raceway)